Washboard



Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,169

c. A. FETTERS WASHBOARD Filed June 15. 1921 aumawtoz Patented Aug. 26,1.924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WASHBOAIRD.

Application filed June 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that CHAnLns A. Fm'rnns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, has inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in VVashboards, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

The invention relates to wash boards of the type used by travelers forwashing small articles of apparel in hotels and the like, and has forits object to provide a device of this character formed from rubber sothat the same can be rolled into a compact package for storage in atraveling bag or suit case. Also to provide vacuum cups on the back ofthe wash board, thereby providing means whereby the board may beattached to a wash tub, or to a wash basin.

A further object is to locate the vacuum cups on the back of the boardin registration with the bottoms of the convolutions of the rubbingsurface of the wash board, so that as an article is rubbed upwardly ordownwardly on the rubbing surface, there will be an outward pull on thevacuum cups instead of a sliding movement.

With the above and other objects in View the invention resides in thecombination and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown'inthe drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that chan es inthe precise embodiment of the inventlon may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wash board,showing the same attached to the side of a wash tub.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Fi ure 4 is an end view showing the wash boa rolled and ready forstorage.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the wash board,which is formed from rubber and 2 the rubbing surface thereof, therubbing surface comprising spaced transversel disposed ribs 3, overSerial No. 477,704.

which ribs articles are rubbed in the usual manner during a rubbingoperation. Disposed on the back 4 of the wash board 1 are a series ofhorizontally disposed rows of vacuum cups 5. Each row of vacuum cups isdisposed in registration with the transverse channels 6 of the rubbingsurface so that during an upward and downward rubbing operation, thetransversel disposed ribs 3 will cause an outward pu l u on the materialadjacent the vacuum cups w ich are disposed in registration with thechannels 6. The wash board when it is desired to attach the same to atub 7 is preferably dampened, then forced or pressed into engagementwith the surface of the tub or wash basin to which it is to be attached.This will cause the vacuum cups 5 to bind and hold the board in place.The board being in place, small articles can be easily and quicklyrubbed thereon.

When it is desired to roll the washboard into a compact package as shownin Figure 4, said board is rolled from the bottom upwardly and in thedirection of the rubbing surface 2, after which the snap fastener 7 isforced into the female portion 8 of the fastener, thereby holding theboard in rolled position.

From the above it will be seen that a board is provided which is compactand one which may be easily transported from place to place. At thepresent times small boards of this character are either constructed inaccordance with the structure of a conventional form of wash board andare a combination of metal and wood, or are stamped entirely out ofmetal. In either case they take up considerable room or tear articles ofapparel in hand ba or suit cases. By forming the washboard om rubber thewashboard not only can be formed into an extremel compact package, butat the same time t e nature of the material from which the same isformed precludes the possibility of the same tearing articles ofapparel.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. A wash board formed from a single piece of pliable rubber, vacuumcup means 2. A wash board formed from a single piece of pliable rubber,one side of said rubber being provided with a rubbin surface comprisinghorizontally dispose ribs and grooves, and vacuum cups disposed on theback of the washboard and in registration with the grooves and formingmeans 10 whereby the washboard may be attached to a surface.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES A. FETTERS.

